按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
you’d have to go to a court of Common Law with a suit； and you’d
have to go to the House of Lords with a suit； and you’d have to get
an Act of Parliament to enable you to marry again； and it would
cost you （if it was a case of very plain …sailing）； I suppose from a
thousand to fifteen hundred pounds；” said Mr Bounderby。
“Perhaps twice the money。”
“There’s no other law？”
“Certainly not。”
“Why then； sir；” said Stephen； turning white； and motioning
with that right hand of his； as if he gave everything to the four
winds； “’tis a muddle。 ’Tis just a muddle a’toogether； an the sooner
I am dead； the better。”
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 100…
Hard Times 100
（Mrs Sparsit again dejected by the impiety of the people。）
“Pooh； pooh！ Don’t you talk nonsense； my good fellow；” said Mr
Bounderby； “about things you don’t understand； and don’t you
call the Institutions of your country a muddle； or you’ll get yourself
into a real muddle one of these fine mornings。 The institutions of
your country are not your piece…work； and the only thing you have
got to do； is； to mind your piece…work。 You didn’t take your wife
for fast and for loose； but for better for worse。 If she has turned out
worse—why； all we have got to say is； she might have turned out
better。”
“’Tis a muddle；” said Stephen； shaking his head as he moved to
the door。 “’Tis a’ a muddle！”
“Now； I’ll tell you what！” Mr Bounderby resumed； as a
valedictory address。 “With what I shall call your unhallowed
opinions； you have been quite shocking this lady： who； as I have
already told you； is a born lady； and who； as I have not already told
you； has had her own marriage misfortunes to the tune of tens of
thousands of pounds—tens of Thou…sands of Pounds！” （he
repeated it with great relish）。 “Now； you have always been a
steady Hand hitherto； but my opinion is； and so I tell you plainly；
that you are turning into the wrong road。 You have been listening
to some mischievous stranger or other—they’re always about—
and the best thing you can do is； to come out of that。 Now you
know；” here his countenance expressed marvellous acuteness； “I
can see as far into a grindstone as another man； farther than a
good many； perhaps； because I had my nose well kept to it when I
was young。 I see traces of the turtle soup； and venison； and gold
spoon in this。 Yes； I do！” cried Mr Bounderby； shaking his head
with obstinate cunning。 “By the Lord Harry； I do！”
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 101…
Hard Times 101
With a very different shake of the head and deep sigh； Stephen
said； “Thank you； sir； I wish you good day。” So he left Mr
Bounderby swelling at his own portrait on the wall； as if he were
going to explode himself into it； and Mrs Sparsit still ambling on
with her foot in her stirrup； looking quite cast down by the
popular vices。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 102…
Hard Times 102
Chapter 12
The Old Woman
ld Stephen descended the two white steps； shutting the
black door with the brazen door…plate； by the aid of the
O
brazen full…stop； to which he gave a parting polish with
the sleeve of his coat； observing that his hot hand clouded it。 He
crossed the street with his eyes bent upon the ground； and thus
was walking sorrowfully away； when he felt a touch upon his arm。
It was not the touch he needed most at such a moment—the
touch that could calm the wild waters of his soul； as the uplifted
hand of the sublimest love and patience could abate the raging of
the sea—yet it was a woman’s hand too。 It was an old woman； tall
and shapely still； though withered by time； on whom his eyes fell
when he stopped and turned。 She was very cleanly and plainly
dressed； had country mud upon her shoes； and was newly come
from a journey。 The flutter of her manner； in the unwonted noise
of the streets； the spare shawl； carried unfolded on her arm； the
heavy umbrella； and little basket； the loose long…fingered gloves； to
which her hands were unused； all bespoke an old woman from the
country； in her plain holiday clothes； come into Coketown on an
expedition of rare occurrence。 Remarking this at a glance； with the
quick observation of his class； Stephen Blackpool bent his
attentive face—his face； which like the faces of many of his order；
by dint of long working with eyes and hands in the midst of a
prodigious noise； had acquired the concentrated look with which
we are familiar in the countenances of the deaf—the better to hear
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 103…
Hard Times 103
what she asked him。
“Pray； sir；” said the old woman； “didn’t I see you come out of
that gentleman’s house？” pointing back to Mr Bounderby’s。 “I
believe it was you； unless I have had the bad luck to mistake the
person in following？”
“Yes； missus；” returned Stephen； “it were me。”
“Have you—you’ll excuse an old woman’s curiosity—have you
seen the gentleman？”
“Yes； missus。”
“And how did he look； sir？ Was he portly； bold； out…spoken； and
hearty？” As she straightened her own figure； and held up her head
in adapting her action to her words； the idea crossed Stephen that
he had seen this old woman before； and had not quite liked her。
“Oh yes；” he returned； observing her more attentively； “he were
all that。”
“And healthy；” said the old woman； “as the fresh wind？”
“Yes；” returned Stephen。 “He were ett’n and drinking—as large
and loud as a Hummobee。”
“Tha